Online Journal of the Hudson Valley Coalition for Life.
"Every human being is called to solidarity in a world battling between life and death" - Ignacio Ellacuria, Jesuit martyr in El Salvador

January 06, 2015

This year's Lumina Advent Dinner "Lighting the Way to Christ and Healing" took place Thursday, December 4th at the Hilton Westchester, in Rye Brook, NY. There were several wonderful talks, and Lumina Director Theresa Bonopartis laid out the past year's accomplishments and future goals. You can read it here.

And here are her last three sentences:

And so I will end where I began

“Mercy is love that suffers the evil of another to affirm his dignity so that he does not have to suffer alone.” Pope JP II

Christ did that for us, may we always by His grace do the same for others.

The monster in the room, abortion, that lives in many of our
families, will also go unnoticed yet another day, as mothers, fathers, grandparents,
siblings and others suffer silently knowing and missing the child, grandchild,
brother or sister that should be there with them, but never speaking of it with
one another.

The hidden wounds of abortion affect each of us. Whether it be one’s neighbor, co-worker, friend, relative, maybe oneself…as a community we have all been touched. Join us as we anticipate the observance of the 38th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion. We will gather to pray and intercede on behalf of our entire nation, seeking forgiveness and healing in God’s merciful love.

The day will include personal testimonies from those who have been affected by abortion, intercessory prayer, Eucharistic adoration & rosary, opportunity for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass – Fr. Mariusz Koch, CFR main celebrant.

Sponsored by the Family Life/Respect Life Office (Sisters of Life) – Archdiocese of NY and Lumina Hope and Healing after Abortion. For further info call Lumina 1-877-586-4621, or email lumina@postabortionhelp.org

Sr. Lucy Marie

Respect Life Coordinator

Archdiocese of New York

1011 First Ave., 7th Floor

New York, NY 10022

212-371-1011 X3192

Mon-Thurs 9:45am-4:45pm

"Advent is concerned with that very connection between memory and hope which is so necessary to man. Advent’s intention is to awaken the most profound and basic emotional memory within us, namely, the memory of the God who became a child. This is a healing memory; it brings hope. The purpose of the Church’s year is continually to rehearse her great history of memories, to awaken the heart’s memory so that it can discern the star of hope.…It is the beautiful task of Advent to awaken in all of us memories of goodness and thus to open doors of hope."

August 10, 2010

Monsignor Lisante said this of Patricia Neal who was receiving a pro-life award in 2003:

I met Patricia Neal over 20 years ago, and we have become good friends ever since. One time when she was on my television show, I said to her, "Pat, in so many ways you are a female Job." She had, as you know, several strokes which put her in a coma for a month. She had a daughter who died of the measles at the age of seven. She had a son who was hit when he was an infant by a car in New York City, and he remains alive but brain-damaged and will be forever. Another daughter who suffered from drug and alcohol addiction; a husband who was great to her once she had the strokes, but he ultimately left her for a younger woman.

And I said, "In your life, Pat, if there was one thing you could change, what would it be?" And Patricia Neal said, "Father, none of the things you just mentioned." But she said, "Forty years ago I became involved with the actor Gary Cooper, and by him I became pregnant. As he was a married man and I was young in Hollywood and not wanting to ruin my career, we chose to have the baby aborted." She said, "Father, alone in the night for over 40 years, I have cried for my child. And if there is one thing I wish I had the courage to do over in my life, I wish I had the courage to have that baby."

Patricia Neal has put herself on the line in saying to many, many women who have experienced abortion or thought about abortion, "Don't make my mistake. Let your baby live." What's particularly painful, but poignant in this story is that some years later, Patricia became good friends with Maria Cooper, the only child of Gary Cooper and his wife. And Maria Cooper said, "You know, I know you had the affair with my father and I have long ago forgiven that. But one thing I find it hard to accept is that as an only child, I so wish that you'd had my brother or my sister. Because in so many ways, I wish so much that you had chosen life."

July 13, 2010

I must admit, sometimes in this abortion debate I feel like I am floating on the periphery, looking on, while the world dissects and argues about abortion, and concerning the unborn and the women who have them.

For me, as a post-abortive mother, it is much more personal. It is about reclaiming my child.

It is about relationships, family, and my son, who is now “living in the Lord” (Gospel of Life, JPII).

April 09, 2006

The Post Abortion Symposium: Sowing the Seeds of Societal Healing, was well attended with 140 participants on Saturday, April 1, 2006 at Archbishop Stepinac High School in White Plains, NY. Sponsored by the Family Life/Respect Life Office of the Archdiocese of NY and Lumina/Hope and Healing After Abortion, it included an impressive array of nationally known speakers.

Theresa Karminski Burke, Ph.D, author and founder of Rachel’s Vineyard Ministries and Retreats opened with an excellent presentation and clinical overview of post abortion syndrome. She told the story of how while working towards her own accreditation in the field of anorexia and bulimia, she found a surprisingly large number of woman suffering with these issues to have had abortions in their past. However, pursing that line of questioning was frowned upon by her colleagues and supervisors. She was eventually told not to ask clients if they had had a previous abortion and that she obviously “had issues”. She began her journey towards offering women non-discriminatory psychological care and healing.

Georgette Forney, President of NOEL (National Organization of Episcopalians for Life) and Co-founder of the Silent No More Awareness campaign closed the day. She told the story of her own abortion at 16 years of age, her ongoing personal journey to help and healing, and her work with the Silent No More campaign consisting of women and men who are post abortive. She has addressed congressional committees, numerous state conventions and rallies, college and university organizations. Her testimonial reminded us all of the need for compassion and understanding and the unique journey of every person who is post abortive.

The day’s workshops were first class. Theresa Bonopartis is Director of Lumina and a sought-after speaker on the topic of post abortion healing and compassion. Her presentation focused on How to Reach Out withCompassion to those who are Post Abortive in Our Communities, Families and Churches(what to say and what not to say). Theresa has shared her own story with wide-ranging audiences and via her CD. Her powerful insights can help anyone in their understanding of the nature of post-abortion trauma. Theresa is also a Co-Director of the Hudson Valley Coalition for Life. She has worked with the Sisters of Life for nine years, and the manual of their co-authored healing ministry is “Entering Canaan, A Sacramental Journey to an Inheritance of Mercy”.

Dr. Joel Brind, Ph.D., New York University Professor of Biochemistry, Physiology, and Immunology spoke on the Physical Consequences of Abortion and Breast Cancer Link. Dr. Brind presented a series of medical and clinical studies on the effects of abortion on women’s bodies, and the increasing overwhelming correlation between abortion, especially under the age of 18, and future risk for breast cancer. He highlighted the statistical maneuverings by organizations that distort or disregard clinical findings and their reasons, usually financial, for doing so.Under the title “Scientists Behaving Badly,” Joel methodically challenged several high-profile statistical analyses that have appeared in well-known medical journals and articles, here and abroad. He believes it unfathomably tragic not to inform women - before they make the decision to abort - of the increased risk of breast cancer they will face.

The Impact and Dynamics of Abortion on Men was presented by the Rev. Scott Miller, M.Div, M. Counseling, and post-abortive father. Scott’s personal, emotional journey was laid out for workshop’s attendees. The Rev. Miller’s tireless ministering to men and women who have suffered the loss of a child through abortion is difficult. He told how faith and honesty had helped him reconcile with God and with those people hurt by his past actions.

The Rev. George Stewart's workshop, The Spiritual Implications of Abortion, was directed to clergy with practical applications regarding homilies and confession. He has been involved in clergy training on post abortion and its spiritual implications through the diocese of New York and at Immaculate Conception Seminary in the Rockville Center Diocese. He told his audiences they were on the front lines of caring in their parishes. He asked them to speak directly to the post-abortive, known or unknown, sitting in their parishes. They are there and they will be listening. No preaching, just open your heart and remind them that you do care. He said if priests aren't speaking to this issue they are perceived as uninformed or possibly as someone who wouldn't understand. Opportunities for counseling and healing are missed for the post abortive and thier family members or friends. He asked that they remain open and available.

If you would like more information about any of these speakers or their work, you can contact Lumina at www.postabortionhelp.org or www.FLRL.org or call Sr. Lucy Marie at 212-371-1011, ext. 3195.

March 06, 2006

Join us at the Post Abortion Symposium – Saturday, April 1, 2006 – Archbishop Stepinac High School in White Plains, NY between 9:45 a.m. and 3 p.m. There is a great lineup of nationally-known speakers, as well as workshops throughout the day. Your $20 admission includes lunch! Many of the questions you may have about abortion’s effects on women (and men) will be answered here.

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Please promote this to everyone, especially to the following: professional counselors, priests, religous, and deacons, pastoral laity, educators, youth ministers and open-minded people on the other side of the abortion issue.

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Here is a link to the flyer with speaker and travel info - SEE YOU THERE!